these are my unedited notes…

2 Cor 5

Sometimes ministry feels like being in Space Mountain with no clues where the turns are and whether your going to make it. There can be a lot of uncertainty moving forward. It is the roller coaster of ministry.

When you outgrow people you love and you have to transition, is part of the roller coaster of ministry. David in Psalms is like that, sometimes God rocks then sometimes I want to die.

Staying grounded in ministry.
2 Cor 5:11 – “God knows we are sincere…”
The tension between those who brag about a spectacular ministry and those who have a sincere heart.

It is our focus on having a faithful and sincere heart. When we focus on spectacular ministry we ride the highs and lows inappropriately.

1) Do a Gut Check.
At the end of your life, no one cares how many people who attended your church. It is about a faithful and sincere heart. It is about being faithful to God, above everything else!

2) Stay a little Crazy for God.
Sometimes you create the mess, sometimes you walk into a mess, sometimes you find yourself fallen over into the mess. What we need to as the church is to come alongside someone get a mop and clean up the mess. It needs you to get a little crazy sometimes. (2 Cor 5:13)

If we are crazy it is for God’s glory, if we are in our right mind, then that is for your benefit!

When your taking risks for God, it has you in a position when you feel in a crazy situation, it anchors your heart faithfully before God. Don’t make your crazy mandatory for everyone else. Go and do it don’t make everyone else do it.

3) Be compelled by Christ’s love.
vs.14-15…no longer living for yourself…
Go back to the place where you really came to know Christ, and remember that compelling love of Christ.

4) Focus on the Task of Reconciliation.
We work for the Publishers Clearing House, we show up at door and say you won $100million…but we are a person who won that money as well. We are celebrating Good News because we know God News.

Remember the faces of those people getting baptized. Remember the faces of those who come to know Jesus.